Book cover



Nov, W, 1940. 1 A. @OLEMAN Emu.. 21,222,253

BOOK COVER Filed may 25, 1939 and Is ador'QA. Coleman Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES BOOK COVER Ada Coleman and Isaolore A. Coleman, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 25, 1939, Serial No. 275,580

l Claim.

The invention relates to a book cover, the same being an improvement of the book cover shown in our previous Patent No. 1,698,391, dated January 8, 1929.

The object of the invention is to improve the appearance and durability of the cover and its convenience of application to avoid exposing the edges of the material more particularly adjacent the corners of the binding and to provide increased thickness along the longitudinal edges of the binding where the book is grasped giving adu ditional protection and increasing the resistance to yielding and tearing at both locations and consequently the durability oi the cover.

In accordance with the invention in the preferred form, this cover has two longitudinal pleats or folds or other suitably thickened portions spaced by a width corresponding to the thickness of the book and adapted to cover or be in approximate close relation to the longitudinal edges of the binding, such pleats also being provided along the outer edges of the book cover.

The improved construction has the particular advantages, not only all edges of the cover material are turned in and are therefore concealed and protected from exposure by rubbing and tearing but it provides for increased scope of adjustment to books of different shapes and sizes, in addition to which, as already pointed out, it provides increased protection to the binding by increased thickness along the longitudinal edges.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illusi trated a book cover embodying the features of my invention in the preferred form.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan looking at the outside of the blank extended.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 showing the tongues folded inwardly or in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a book covered in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modied form of book cover showing theY same applied to a book.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the diiferent iigures, the construction shown comprises a cover blank i, the blank as shown being one which has been applied to a book and removed leaving the creases on the fold lines shown in dot and dash lines. The pleats or folds previously referred to as shown are ap- `binding as indicated by reference characters proximately one half inch in width or of any suitable width, the pleats being indicated by reference characters 2 and 2 and being parallel with the binding and preferably spaced by a distance corresponding approximately to the thickness of the book, the portion 3 between the pleats being the part that covers the binding. The length of the book in the direction of the binding is parallel to the direction of the pleats, when the binding is applied to the book. While the pleats are preferably spaced to overlap the edges of the binding, this only applies to the books of the average dimensions of those to be covered, it being understoodthat each size of cover is applied to books of considerable variation in thickness and other dimensions.

ln the form of the invention shown, the cover I is slotted at i and 5 along the edges of the pleats near their respective ends providing tongues ii and l which overlap the ends of the 20 book binding, in the applied position of the cover. The tongues 6 and l in the form of the inven tion shown are of the full width of the area 3 between the pleats and exceed the same by the width of the two pleats, i. e.. twice the width of one pleat, though this dimension may be varied without departure from the principle and intent of the invention.

The cover of the invention is of excess width and length as compared to the covers of the book, preferably exceeding the same by an inch or more, the excess width forming flaps at the longitudinal edges of the cover parallel to the 8 and there is a similar margin forming flaps 5 at the top and bottom at 9 and il', the margins or naps ii il and 9 Ei being defined by broken dot and dash lines which indicate creases due to the application of the cover to a book, the creases are not present in the new article which has not been applied.

The pleats 2 and 2' may be held in fixed posi-A tion by stitching as indicated at Il and il in the drawing, or in any suitable manner.

The cover of the invention in the form shown, the view Fig. 1, being an outside View, is provided with buttons lll, li and l2 which may be of paper riveted or similarly fastened at the` center, the button ID is provided with a cord I3 50 which, when the cover has been applied in the manner illustrated, is well shown and described in the above cited patent, provides for securing the cover, the cord being attached to the button i0, is drawn about and wound about the button 55 Il and from hence it is drawn to the button I2 and fastened by a plurality of turns.

The cover is applied, as best shown in Fig. 6. The area 3 between pleats 2 and 2 is first caused to overlie and to register with the book binding. Tabs 6 and 'I are then folded inwardly causing the area 3 of the outer cover, of the invention, to conform to the length of the book binding. The two sides of the cover 4 and 5 will then conveniently overlie and rest on the outer surfaces of the corresponding covers of the book. The margin flaps 8 and 8' and 9 and 9 are then folded inwardly over the edges of the book covers and fastened by means of the cords I3 leading from the buttons IIJ, I0, about the buttons II, II and nally secured to the buttons I2, I2.

It will be apparent that the tongues 6 and I being thus folded and extending inwardly as shown at 4 and 5 beyond the edges of the pleats I and 2, all edges of the material are covered as viewed when the book is closed, and the pleats 2 and 2' which overlap the edges of the binding or are closely related to the same provide thickened portions Where the book is grasped in handlingor reading, increasing the strength and durability of the cover and the degree of protection for the book provided by it. Pleats I6 which are parallel with pleats 2, 2 and similarly formed in the blank I extend along the edges of the book cover on the outside and the respective pleats I6 cooperate with corresponding pleats 2 to support the book with the medial regions of the book cover slightly above the support on which the book rests.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a book cover embodying the features of the invention in the preferred form in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using may be fully understood, however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, numerous minor variations within the intent being obvious. The scope of the invention is dened in the claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A protective book cover comprising a unitary sheet of exible material exceeding in area the outer surface of the book including the binding, said sheet being provided with a central area designed to cover the binding of the book and a pair of outer side portions designed to cover the front and rear outer sides of the book, said sheet being provided with a pair of thickened pleated portions coextensive with the height of the book and extending in parallelism on each side of the central area in the side regions of the cover and spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the book from the edges of the binding outwardly whereby when the cover is assembled on the book and the latter is in a cumbent position on a supporting surface one or the other pair of pleated portions will serve to elevate the book adjacent its lower outer and inner edges and maintain the medial regions of the side portions of the cover slightly elevated from the supporting surface, and side and end flaps on the side portions of the cover adapted to be folded inwardly inside the book sides.

ADA COLEMAN. ISADORE A. COLEMAN. 

